It’s extremely unfortunate, but almost every business niche has its slew of scammers and rip offs. It is fortunate for us, however, a roofing industry leader has come forward with a few tips on how to avoid two of the biggest scams in the roof repair and replacement business.

ILM Roofing is a local roof repair/replacement business with loads of experience in dealing with customers who have been ripped off by scammers. They do their best to advertise to locals what to look out for by encouraging their clients to share experiences with scams. And now, they’ve given us the info we need to make a warning style blog post, detailing what to look out for to avoid these rip offs.

Here’s the two scams they detailed:

1. Sales Pressure Tactics

This sort of scam goes on in nearly every home improvement sphere out there. It’s especially common in the roofing business, and our experts say that with this area (because of storm damage) it’s even more likely to occur.

Avoiding the companies that employ these ridiculously high pressure techniques is simple enough: avoid any roofer that comes across as “salesy”. That might seem like common sense, but people fall for it all the time!

Immediately ignore any roofer that shows up unannounced. These companies might be pulling more than one kind of scam in this case. Also disregard any contractor that requests down payments before any work is done.

For lots of homeowners, it can be all to easy to fall victim to something like this because roof repairs and replacements are usually only needed once or twice in your lifetime. Don’t be fooled and avoid legally binding contracts. Be especially wary of roofers interested in your insurance policies!

2. Bid Scamming

This scam is straightforward enough and never excusable if the contractor knows what they’re doing when they inspect your roof and give you your initial consultation.

Essentially, they raise the price of the job after they’ve started. It often starts with offering the homeowner a bid that’s much lower than what the other local companies bid. This is simply to get them to agree to working with them! They target seniors or new home owners, knowing that they have less experience with home improvement services.

Once the job starts, all sorts of issues start cropping up. The scamming contractor might resort to fibs about rising material costs or even unforeseen issues they didn’t catch in their inspection. Don’t fall for this! If a roofing company offers you a low bid, there’s a reason. And one reason might be that they’re trying to pull a fast one on you!

With all the services like Homeadvisor and Yelp out there, it can be difficult to determine which service providers actually have the best practices and which ones just paid the most for the highest placed listings.

We’ve put together this quick guide to help you find reliable, trustworthy, and fair service providers for some of the most common issues with small businesses and homes in the area. Each of these are businesses that we know personally and have experience with, enjoy!

Landscaping

We’ve heard nothing but great things about Landscaping Unlimited. Give them a call if you’re looking to take your yard to the next level and have reliable, weekly service for your lawn.

Roofing

There’s never a shortage of work for roofers in the Wilmington area. Between the storm damage and constant need to update roofing insulation, pretty much every company stays busy. Not every company is reputable though! We recommend ILM Roofing if you’re in need of repairs or replacements.

Carpet Cleaning

Finding a carpet cleaner might seem straightforward enough, but there’s definitely a fair share of companies that lack the experience to do a thorough job. Knowing which brushes and chemicals to use on different types of carpet makes all the difference in cleaning. Check out these guys for a quality cleaning job:

Natalie English will serve as the new Wilmington Chamber president & CEO, taking the place of Interim President Dick Blouse effective March 6th. Natalie currently serves as Chief Public Policy Officer for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce where she manages the Chamber’s efforts to affect policy relating to business issues at all levels of government.

Natalie’s 30 years of experience monitoring legislative and regulatory issues is a perfect fit to lead and enhance our advocacy efforts regionally, statewide, and even at the federal level. She has a strong track record of success and has been responsible for building community support for several investments in infrastructure that have been key to Charlotte’s economic development. Her leadership experience and background in affecting policies that impact the cost and ease of doing business, quality of life and workforce will help take the Wilmington business community and our Chamber to new heights.

Natalie’s role as the Charlotte Chamber’s Chief Public Policy Officer included managing campaigns for community referenda which helped lead to the passage of over $5 billion in infrastructure investments since 2006. In 2007, she served as the chief staff person managing the Vote Against Repeal campaign and the campaign to push for passage of four county bond referenda to improve infrastructure in the Charlotte community. The Vote Against Repeal campaign successfully convinced 70% of Mecklenburg County voters to defeat the effort to repeal the dedicated funding source for Charlotte’s mass transit program and all four bond issues passed.

Natalie received her B.A. in Communications from North Carolina State University, and achieved her designation as a Certified Chamber Executive in 2012, one of only approximately 700 in the world. In 2010, the National Association of Women Business Owners – Charlotte Chapter awarded Natalie with their Community Service Award. In 2008, Natalie was awarded the prestigious Marshall Memorial Fellowship and completed a 25-day trip to Europe to learn about and advance trans-Atlantic relations. She was named as a 2008 Women in Business Achievement Award Winner by the Charlotte Business Journal and in 2009 and 2013 the Mecklenburg Times named Natalie one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Charlotte.

Natalie has also been an active volunteer, having served on the board of MeckEd, Partners in Out of School Time (POST), Leadership Charlotte, the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Alexander Youth Network, United Way, Charlotte Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board, the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research, and Junior Achievement. She currently serves as President of the Charlotte Rotary Club.

Natalie has expressed that she is thrilled with the opportunity to lead the chamber staff and volunteers in partnership with elected and government officials to do great things in Wilmington. It has long been her career goal to lead a chamber in a vibrant community, and she looks forward to getting to know our Chamber members and others that have made Wilmington so successful.

Officials said the crash happened at 4114 Shipyard Boulevard around noon. A dark SUV crashed into the front of the Intracoastal Internal Medicine office. Police on scene said vehicle failure could have caused the crash, but they are still investigating.

Police said an 85-year-old man was dropping off his wife at the office when the incident happened.

No injuries were reported. Police said no charges are expected.

It’s not the first time this doctor’s office has been hit.

On Feb. 1, 2011, a Honda Accord crashed into Intracoastal Internal Medicine. At the time, investigators said the driver had a leg brace that got caught on the accelerator. The crash took out the office’s front door. The man was not seriously hurt, but was taken to the hospital.

Beau’s Coffee, founded by owners Amy and Ben Wright with the goal of providing meaningful employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, was named the 2016 Coastal Entrepreneur of the Year at a May 24 ceremony honoring innovative businesses in the Cape Fear Region.

You can find Beau’s Coffee at:

4949 New Centre Dr
Wilmington, NC 28403

The Coastal Entrepreneur Awards are presented by UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Greater Wilmington Business Journal in recognition of companies and nonprofits that have created a marketable business or product from the germ of an idea. Many of those businesses have their roots at UNCW or in the CIE.

Beau’s was one of 10 CEA finalists recognized in nine categories. The Entrepreneur of the Year is selected from among those businesses.

UNCW Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli noted that the 10 entrepreneurs honored have gained the respect of the business community for their innovative approach to problem solving and public service.

“You are part of the wave of innovation that is propelling our region’s economy forward in essential ways, and we’re all proud of you,” Sartarelli said. “Thank you for being great role models for UNCW students who dream of starting their own businesses one day.”

For the Wrights, the business plan behind Beau’s was personal. Their two youngest children were born with Down syndrome, including their son, the business’ namesake. The coffee shop opened in a small space in Wilmington earlier this year. It employs 24 people, including 19 with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and business has been brisk.

Beau’s caught the attention of TV host Rachael Ray, who featured the shop on her morning show. The Wrights have had more than 150 inquiries from across the nation expressing interest in opening a Beau’s franchise, and also plan to expand within Wilmington.

“Most of the people standing on this stage have never had a moment like this,” Amy Wright told the audience at the Burney Center. “They have been marginalized and discriminated against, so this feels like the Academy Awards for us.”

Each of the entrepreneurs honored at the CEA presentations has taken an idea and built it into a successful business. This year’s individual-category CEA winners were:

Biotechnology: Atlantic Biotechnology

Emerging Company: Lapetus Solutions

Emerging Company: Prone2Paddle

Health Care: Wilmington Orthotics & Prosthetics

Internet-Related Business: Likeli

Manufacturing & Distribution: Bradford Products

Nonprofit: WHQR Public Radio

Professional Services: Edu-Tell

Retail & Hospitality – Beau’s Coffee

Technology: LifeGait

Six of the 10 companies are affiliated with the CIE or UNCW in some way. Lapetus Solutions, which has developed facial analytics, software and “dynamic questioning” to better predict risk and longevity, was founded by UNCW computer science professor Karl Ricanek. Edu-Tell, which helps people self-mentor “and take charge of their own success,” was founded by Marsha Carr, an associate professor in the Watson College of Education. Both companies are housed in the CIE.

Last year’s winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award was mimujimi, a Seahawk Innovation company. The company’s product, an ergonomic baby bottle designed to replicate breastfeeding, is sold around the world.

The Fair Bluff Baptist Church held a BBQ on Saturday to help raise funds for renovations the church needs after flooding during Hurricane Matthew.

The church sits on Main Street in downtown Fair Bluff. The entire sanctuary was flooded during Hurricane Matthew, and the congregation hasn’t been able to use the church for worship since.

“Looking over the town, it was like a slow death,” said Fair Bluff Baptist Church Pastor Todd Padgett. “Coming in to see the flood damage that had happened within the sanctuary was devastating.”

Hundreds of people from Fair Bluff and the surrounding communities came to the BBQ. Something that didn’t surprise those volunteering on Saturday.

“We are very thankful for the people around the community, not just this town, but it surrounding communities,” said Deborah Suttles. “There coming together even though they may not be a part of the town or this church.”

Those at the BBQ enjoyed a meal, each others company, and the hope that the city would rebuild.

Only a few of the stores on Main Street have re-opened since Hurricane Matthew.

Mayor Billy Hammond said he was happy to see those in Fair Bluff stick together through tough times.

“It makes me feel great that the community is coming together to help us reunite and bring the church back to town,” said Hammond.

The church has already started renovations. but they still need additional funds to complete the project.

Everyone in the congregation is ready to be back in the sanctuary.

“There’s an old song, “When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be,” and I believe it is going to be a great day of rejoicing,” said Padgett. “I don’t think there are words to describe what people in this church will be feeling at that time.”

Right now, there is no timeline for when the congregation will be able to move back into the sanctuary.

Cape Fear Community College’s new North Campus development, aimed at preparing students for jobs in emerging technology fields, is nearly complete.

The CFCC Advanced and Emerging Technologies Center features 127,000 square feet of laboratory and lecture space. The $33 million project began broke ground in October 2015 and will be completed on schedule in late April, according to David Kanoy, director of capital projects. The first students will enter the center for the fall 2017 semester.

The center’s three buildings, located on CFCC’s north campus, focus on three major industries. The Advanced and Emerging Technologies building focuses on sustainably technologies – such as solar power and green architecture and construction – as well as a HVAC program.

The Heavy Equipment and Transportation Technology features training for operation and maintenance of commercial vehicles like semi-trailers, cranes and earth-moving vehicles.

According to Executive Director of Community Relations Rachel Nadeau, “the center is focused on helping students pursue the technology jobs that are developing in our area.”

Lastly, the center’s veterinary technology program features custom-built facilities for housing, treating and training adopted – and adoptable – animals from around the region.

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We're a local business news aggregation tool for Wilmington, NC and the surrounding area. We do our best to stay on top of industry trends, big news breaks, and the like.
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